Page 158 of His Darkest Obsession

But beyond that, I can see her smile. See the corners of her soft hazel eyes crinkling when she sees me. And the moment that thought crosses my mind, my heart skips a beat.

I have my answer.

"Yes," I say finally, the word feeling both strange and right on my tongue. "I love her."

Mother shakes her head, disappointment radiating from her. "Love has no place in the Bratva. Love is the death of duty, and a pakhan must be dutiful above all else. You know this, Tolya. Your father knew this. It's the way of our world."

"Maybe some ways of our world should be changed"

"Change?" Mother laughs bitterly. "You think you're the first pakhan who thought he can change things because of a woman? Do you remember what I told you that day when you first brought her home?"

I clench my jaw. "You said she would betray me one day."

Mother nods. "That day is coming sooner than you think."

"You don't know anything about her," I snap.

"And you're clueless about just how deep some people's schemes run," Mother counters, her voice almost pitying now.

"And what schemes, Mother, are you running?" I demand, stepping closer to her.

Mother draws herself up, looking indignant. "I run no schemes, Tolya. Everything I do, I do for the bratva. I've always been loyal to this family." Her finger jabs in the direction of the city. "But you cannot say the same for her."

"Enough," I warn.

"No, not enough." Mother's voice rises. "You still have time to set aside the whore and embrace the wife you were always meant to have. Before it's too late."

Something snaps inside me. "I TOLD YOU TO STOP CALLING HER THAT!" I roar, my voice echoing across the manicured lawn.

Mother doesn't back down. Instead, she steps closer, her face flushed with anger. "You have no idea what's coming, Tolya! Taras Volkov is making inroads with other crime families as we speak. Families with connections throughout the city. They will help him avenge his daughter's honor."

I scoff, but Mother continues.

"When Taras has the numbers, he will go to war. Not these little skirmishes we've seen, but a real war. A war the Baryshevs cannot hope to win alone." Her voice drips with disdain. "And for what? So you can continue fucking your whore while everything falls to ruin?"

Her eyes narrow. "A whore who's already proved she wasn't careful enough to not get knocked up by another man."

White-hot rage floods my system. I storm up the porch steps in three long strides and pin Mother against her front door, my forearm pressing across her collar bones.

"THAT MONSTER RAPED HER," I roar, my face inches from hers.

Mother doesn't flinch, even with my arm against her throat. "It wasn't up to you to avenge her," she says coldly.

I lean closer, my arm still pressed against her throat. "I will not abandon her," I snarl, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Not for you, not for the Volkovs, not for anyone. Indigo is my wife, and I trust her with my heart. All of it."

Mother's eyes fill with disgust.

"If the Volkovs want to start a war on account of her," I continue, "then I will kill every last one of them. I'll burn their houses to the ground and salt the earth where they stand."

"Then you're lost," Mother spits, not even struggling against my hold. "I would rather die than watch everything this family built crumble to nothing."

The anger pulsing through me is like nothing I've ever felt before. Not when I learned of my father's death. Not when I killed for the first time. Not even yesterday when I beat Bennet's face into a bloody ruin.

My free hand moves to my holster and pull out my gun.

"If you want to die so badly," I say. "I can grant you that wish."

Mother doesn't flinch. Her eyes are calm, almost relieved. "Would you be so cruel as to kill your own mother? For her?"